Des Moines Kingpin RAYLON CANADA Busted in $20M Drug Ring

DES MOINES, Iowa — The grimy streets of Des Moines were rocked as eight defendants, led by RAYLON CANADA, 28, faced a litany of federal drug charges. This joint federal and state investigation’s months-long probe into CANADA’s cocaine and marijuana trafficking operation has finally come to light.

According to Marc Krickbaum, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, Bryan VanDuen of the FBI Omaha Field Division, and Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert, RAYLON CANADA was alleged to have been involved in cocaine distribution since October 2018. The primary complaint against CANADA reveals his mail-order supply from PEDRO BUSTAMANTE MACHUCA, 28, a California-based source now in custody.

The investigation led to the arrest of five additional customers and redistributors: TERIKAH MEIKETIA MAHANEY, 26; MICHELLE LEE MIRELES, 39; ERIC ELMONT BOWMAN, 33; KATARIO WADE PATTON, 48; MARVIN HAYGOOD, JR., 33; and JOSEPH MANUEL JONES, 47. Federal search warrants were executed across Des Moines on June 6, 2019.

The charges against these defendants carry a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, to be imposed under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. The public is reminded that charges are accusations, not evidence of guilt, as the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Valuable assistance in this case was provided by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; DEA; Dallas County Sheriff’s Office; Polk County Sheriff’s Office; Story County Sheriff’s Office; and the Altoona Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mikaela Shotwell and Kristin Herrera represent the government.